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Windows eleven review: We similar it but you shouldn't exist upgrading today

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 11 is officially out, meaning millions of PC owners are free to upgrade today (as long as their computers meet Microsoft's ridiculously strict system requirements). I've been testing a near-final pre-release version of Windows eleven for a while, and I'thousand here to spread the practiced news that my calculator hasn't blown up in one case. Windows 11 is and so far a completely non-lethal operating system, which is definitely a skillful sign, but perhaps non plenty justification to install it. To make the call on whether other PC gamers should actually install Windows 11 today, I've been spending some quality time with its new Start carte du jour and rounded corners.

Windows 11 looks squeamish, but that's not enough reason to upgrade on 24-hour interval one, either. After more than a week using Windows 11 day-to-day, I wouldn't recommend anyone install it today. Nigh none of Windows eleven'due south promised big features are actually included correct now, and no thing how promising a new version of Windows is, some launch twenty-four hours issues are inevitable.

Right now Windows 11 is good, and information technology'll be even better when its outset meaty update arrives in a few months. Only on day one, this makeover isn't worth the potential hassle.

The UI changes are nice, but ultimately minor

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Taste sure is cyclical, huh? In the mid-2000s, transparency and 'burnished' user interfaces were the new hotness, and Windows Vista and Windows 7 were all about their rounded edges. Microsoft ditched that manner for a decade of abrupt edges and solid colors earlier going dorsum to a softer manner in Windows 11, and I've liked each pace forth the way.

After a couple weeks of using Windows 11 (primarily with a light theme rather than nighttime way), I miss some of Windows 10's vibrant colors and big tiles, but generally prefer this brighter aesthetic, which is echoed in Microsoft'south new icon design.

Microsoft has washed a better task than with Windows ten making themes experience cohesive

The taskbar and rounded edges and colors evoke the aforementioned airy lightness as that classic Windows XP wallpaper; I feel a little like I'one thousand floating on clouds as I pop open the Start menu and the file explorer, which is a nice feeling. Pretty soon I'll get used to the new aesthetic and and then it'll just be business as usual, or I'll employ a unlike color scheme.

Regardless, I think Microsoft has done a better job than with Windows 10 making themes feel cohesive, and the switch from light mode to dark mode is really smooth.

Smooth is a good word for a lot of Windows 11—it reflects almost everything I enjoy well-nigh it, similar the new, far less jarring notification pop-ups. Windows eleven has new sound effects, as well, and I think they're mode more pleasant in general. It's equally if for years reckoner sound effects have been designed with pure functional utility in mind, and then one day someone said "Remember when we had Brian Eno compose the Windows 95 startup jingle, and information technology sounded dainty? What if we tried to make things sound squeamish again?"

Here'due south a comparison: the notification sound in Windows 10 vs. the notification sound in Windows eleven.

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a fleck. But I definitely notice Windows 11's soundscape much more pleasant.

There are other little things I actually similar here. The window snap feature now lets y'all hover over the maximize button to cull from dissimilar ratios and arrangements, like a lxx/30 split, which I find really handy. If y'all use 2 monitors and plough your second one on while Windows 10 is running, the Bone spends a few seconds basically having a seizure before figuring out what to display where. In Windows 11, the desktop on your chief monitor zooms out for a couple seconds to signify a brandish change is happening, and and then it pops right dorsum into place as the second monitor comes online. Smooth. (Well, usually smooth. Sometimes the screen still blinks blackness a couple times before its blitheness kicks in.)

The primary Settings menu has been nicely polished up and improves on the gobs of wasted white space in Windows x to brandish more than important information without the need for diving into advanced menus. I don't know why the heck the ancient Control Panel is still included in Windows eleven, but Microsoft really needs to ensure all its functionality is replicated in Settings and kill it off once and for all.

The Start menu as well looks dainty and clean compared to the mess of tiles it was in Windows ten, though as a consequence it does cease upward feeing less functional. I don't understand why the button you click to run into more than of your apps is so modest, or why Microsoft didn't brand information technology more than customizable on the whole. The unspoken answer may exist that the Showtime bill of fare is nearly worthless when you can more chop-chop launch applications by pressing the Windows key and typing a couple letters, but as information technology is now it feels similar a half-idea-out redesign.

And the taskbar/Outset renovation has come at the expense of some options that hardcore users dear, like the power to stick the taskbar to the side of the screen or correct-click information technology to access the Task Manager.

These feel like features Microsoft volition inevitably add back in over the coming months, which does highlight how meager an upgrade Windows 11 feels on launch day. And nosotros're likely to run into some other problems pop up as more people outset using Windows 11, similar the file explorer retention leak. Aside from the new artful, the few large features Microsoft talked about in its presentation this summertime—especially the ones to do with gaming—just aren't here nonetheless.

There aren't really any must-have features correct now

At that place are simply a few big changes Microsoft hyped up when it revealed Windows 11:

• DirectStorage Xbox tech that uses fast SSDs to speed up game operation
• A totally revamped Microsoft Store
• Auto HDR Xbox tech that tonemaps games without congenital-in HDR back up for HDR monitors

DirectStorage and Auto HDR could exist a big deal for your PC, but I'chiliad putting a heavy emphasis on could, there. If you don't have an HDR monitor—even so an expensive rarity in the PC world—Auto HDR won't exercise anything for you, unless you hook your PC up to a Idiot box.

• Black Friday gaming monitor deals

DirectStorage was initially going to be a Windows eleven exclusive before Microsoft backtracked, adding back up for Windows 10, too. Game developers need to implement the DirectStorage API for information technology to work, though, which means on launch mean solar day this feature is going to do absolutely nothing for your gaming feel, even if you have the necessary speedy NVMe SSD.

So… how'southward that new Microsoft Store? It's a little nicer to browse than the erstwhile one, but is yet mostly filled with apps you'll never desire. I don't run into any PC gamers turning to this store instead of a Google search to find the programs they want, only when Android apps arrive next yr, peradventure that will change.

What we ultimately care about with the shop is Microsoft's handling of games—trying to install 1 just redirects y'all to the Xbox app, which is still but a glorified front end-end for the store itself. When I started installing a game from the Xbox app, I could see information technology announced in my Microsoft Store library and sentinel its download progress there too. Simply browsing around the Xbox app for a while, it does feel a bit more responsive to me than it does in Windows ten where it's real chunky, but the design is unchanged. At that place'due south definitely nada here that would compel you lot to upgrade.

Microsoft has reworked some core Windows programs, like Paint and the Snipping tool, but strangely neither are available at launch, either; they're currently in testing in the Windows Insider dev build. I guess Paint was never going to be a killer app, but fifty-fifty those pocket-sized updates withal beingness in testing highlights how arbitrary this October 5th 'launch' date feels.

The smaller changes to Windows xi are really the but draw right now. The new artful, the reworked Start menu, tweaks to various settings menus and longstanding programs like Paint. At that place are some nice surprises scattered around. For example, the emoji bill of fare (Windows cardinal + .) at present includes Tenor for inserting gifs and likewise bundles in your clipboard history (Windows primal + 5) for pasting. Information technology'southward a smart, convenient pairing, but unless you have a crippling gif addiction, I wouldn't call it a must-have.

It's mostly stable, in our testing

(Image credit: Microsoft)

After using the latest build of Windows eleven for a full week leading upwards to release, I oasis't experienced whatsoever crashes or hangs or notable blips in performance. It just feels like Windows x with a new skin. Information technology'southward certainly less buggy than some of Microsoft'due south infamous past launches.

There are a ton of variables hither, of grade—your PC hardware, your accessories, whether you did a clean install or an upgrade. If anything causes compatibility issues, it'due south probably going to exist drivers. Windows 11 is introducing a new driver model, though for at present all your quondam hardware and their old drivers will probably work as-is, assuming they worked in Windows 10.

In the nigh recent Windows 11 build, Jorge hit a light-green screen of death merely by plugging in his Logitech G305 mouse dongle, and after a reboot found that his wireless keyboard and headset dongles stopped working, besides. He had to reinstall the drivers to become them working again. Other testers on our team accept seen some pocket-sized bugs, similar disappearing buttons, and the Mail service app'southward side panel outright vanishing at one point. Not bad on the whole—we've come a long fashion from the super crashy days of Windows 95.

Gaming performance is the aforementioned or better

(Image credit: Microsoft, Square Enix)

The good news is that, unless you lot have that ol' VBS chestnut enabled, upgrading to Windows eleven today shouldn't affect your gaming performance. Nosotros've played some of our favorite games on different machines, running different builds of Windows 11 and have had surprisingly few issues. And any we take encountered only seemed to announced on their first boot, and a quick reboot fixed them.

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PCG Test Rig

CPU: Intel Core i7 10700K
Motherboard: MSI MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi
Graphics card: Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti Founders Edition
Retention: 32GB Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro DDR4-3200|
SSD: 1TB SK Hynix Gold P31
Libation: Corsair H100i RGB Pro XT
Chassis: DimasTech Mini V2
Os: Windows 11 Build 22000.194

We've too been punishing the main PC Gamer test rig with various games from our regular test suite, and performance has, for the most part, just improved. The only real outlier is the Civilization Six AI test, where the Windows 11 test was half a second slower.

Elsewhere, it'southward mostly quicker. Though only slightly quicker. It has to be said that whatsoever performance differences take been within the margins of benchmarking error, and then we can't necessarily give Microsoft the thumbs up to its claims of this beingness the best Windows ever for gaming.

But, chiefly, it's not bad for gaming either. At this early on indicate in an operating system's lifetime relative frame rate stasis can definitely be counted every bit a win.

You can still upgrade for free for the foreseeable hereafter

Windows eleven is a free upgrade from Windows x, though the automatic rollout will exist deadening. Microsoft says "We expect all eligible devices to exist offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 past mid-2022."

Unlike when information technology kickoff introduced Windows 10, Microsoft hasn't said anything about a cutoff for complimentary upgrades to Windows eleven. Every bit far as we know, you'll be able to upgrade for gratis 2 or five years from now. And you lot will desire to somewhen—security updates for Windows 10 run terminate in October 2025.

THE LATEST STATEMENTS ON Organisation REQUIREMENTS ARE A Business concern

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 11 organization requirements:

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster with two or more than cores on a uniform 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device
• System firmware: UEFI, Secure Kicking capable
• TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version ii.0
• Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x
• Display: >9-inch with HD Resolution (720p)
• Cyberspace connection: Microsoft account and cyberspace connectivity required for setup for Windows eleven Home

Microsoft has decided to allow PC users who don't meet the minimum arrangement requirements to install Windows xi, simply warned in August that those PCs would not be entitled to updates. This doesn't make sense, which I wrote about in detail here—if some people do become ahead and install Windows 11, isn't denying them security updates simply going to make the unabridged Windows 11 ecosystem more than vulnerable?

So far Microsoft has stuck to this position. The PC Health Check app that analyzes whether your computer meets the system requirements will now requite this warning to PCs that don't laissez passer muster:

"If you keep with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won't exist entitled to receive updates. Amercement to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren't covered under the manufacturer warranty."

• Don't pay more than this for a Black Friday gaming PC

If your PC doesn't currently meet the system requirements, yous should definitely concord off on upgrading until we encounter whether Microsoft changes this ridiculous policy.

Microsoft has as well said "in partnership with our OEM and silicon partners, we will be enabling VBS and HVCI on virtually new PCs over this side by side twelvemonth. And we will go along to seek opportunities to expand VBS across more systems over time."

And what's VBS? Virtualization-Based Security is a condom feature that the Department of Defense loves, just information technology does seem to tank gaming operation. It'southward not getting enabled by default if you upgrade your Windows ten machine to Windows 11, but information technology looks similar a whole lot of new Windows 11 systems are going to come with a frame rate hobbling feature every bit standard.

We're still waiting to hear from Microsoft whether that'southward going to include gaming-focused systems as well every bit the sort of systems businesses like to kit out their secure offices with.

How long should you wait, then?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

I know waiting is hard. It'southward a lot more than fun to jump on board the shiny new gunkhole the second it leaves the dock. I've been testing Windows 11 for a while at present, so it feels a scrap like I'm teasing you by saying do as I say, not as I do. But honestly, using Windows eleven is similar jumping on board the shiny new boat, taking a closer look at the proper name on the hull, and realizing someone just painted over the old name to sell you on an heady prowl. Fundamentally, it still feels a whole lot like Windows ten.

Okay, then when should the average person install Windows 11? I call up there are 2 milestones to wait for:

1. Microsoft clarifies (or walks back) its draconian organisation requirements then that every Windows 11 user receives the same updates. If y'all have a very new PC this won't thing for you lot, but y'all should still agree out for…
2. The first big Windows 11 update. If Microsoft follows a similar cadence every bit it did with Windows 10, Windows 11's first big update will likely come up next spring.

Windows xi'due south launch has seemed unnecessarily rushed

Waiting for the first big update volition give the developers fourth dimension to implement hundreds of bug fixes. More than importantly, by then Microsoft will hopefully reinstate typical Windows features that seem to be missing for no real reason here. I mean, how are we supposed to live without Cortana slapped on the taskbar past default?

Okay, merely seriously, there are some dear features missing here, similar the power to movement the taskbar to the left or right side of the screen, and there are missing shortcuts that sting, like not being able to correct-click the taskbar anymore to launch the task director. The new Start menu sure seems like information technology should exist more than customizable.

Windows 11'south launch has seemed unnecessarily rushed, given the continuing defoliation over its organisation requirements, so a few more months of development on its first big update will likely deliver the Bone as it should have launched.

If y'all do decide to install Windows 11 anyway…

Okay okay okay, so you lot got through all the warnings and reasons you should expect and you want to become ahead and install Windows 11 anyway. I accept your decision—you are a assuming, fearless PC gamer and I won't agree yous back.

Instead of just existence gung-ho and overwriting your Windows 10 installation today, check out our guide on how to install Windows 11.

Practice I need a Windows eleven key?

Not if you're upgrading from Windows x—that's gratis.

If you're installing fresh, you lot can likewise cull to install Windows 11 without a key and after annals information technology to your Microsoft account, which will automatically pull in your Windows 10 credentials. Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Or y'all could even effort out Windows 11 without activating it for a while, if you don't mind the watermark and not existence able to personalize the await and feel. If you do go alee and install, savour beingness on the cutting border—we'll accept a lot more to say about Windows 11 equally we dig deeper into the operating arrangement.

Dave has been gaming since the days of Zaxxon and Lady Bug on the Colecovision, and code books for the Commodore Vic xx (Decease Race 2000!). He built his offset gaming PC at the tender age of xvi, and finally finished issues-fixing the Cyrix-based system around a yr afterward. When he dropped it out of the window. He first started writing for Official PlayStation Mag and Xbox Earth many decades agone, then moved onto PC Format total-time, then PC Gamer, TechRadar, and T3 among others. Now he's dorsum, writing about the nightmarish graphics card market, CPUs with more cores than sense, gaming laptops hotter than the sun, and SSDs more capacious than a Cybertruck.

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Source: https://www.pcgamer.com/windows-11-review/

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